ACCA vs ICAN in Nigeria: how to compare the qualifications

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) are distinct professional accountancy bodies. ICAN was established in Nigeria by Act of Parliament No. 15 of 1965. ACCA operates internationally.

Completing one qualification does not mean you have gained membership of the other, nor does either route serve as an automatic substitute for the other. Learn is independent of both organisations and does not award either qualification. This guide reviews the entry routes, exam structures, and completion requirements of each body without ranking them, allowing you to examine the official paths clearly.

Under the structure checked on 31 October 2026, ACCA's exam pathway consists of three stages: Applied Knowledge, Applied Skills, and Strategic Professional. A detailed breakdown of these stages is available in the Learn ACCA guide. ACCA has also announced an updated qualification structure scheduled for 2027, which you can read about in the ACCA 2027 qualification changes overview.

ICAN's professional qualification consists of 15 subjects across three tiers, as verified on 31 October 2026 from official ICAN documentation:

• Foundation: Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Business Environment, Corporate and Business Law.
• Skills: Financial Reporting, Taxation, Performance Management, Audit Assurance and Forensics, Public Sector Accounting and Finance, Financial Management.
• Professional: Strategic Business Reporting, Advanced Taxation, Strategic Financial Management, Advanced Audit Assurance and Forensics, Case Study.

Because ACCA and ICAN set their own entry criteria, they do not share a single starting standard.

To register as a professional student with ICAN, you must hold an Accounting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) certificate, or a qualification not below a recognized university degree or its equivalent.

ACCA does not apply a single blanket qualification rule for every applicant. Your starting point depends on your country of study and the specific educational credentials you already hold. You should review your qualifications directly using the ACCA minimum entrance tool to verify your eligibility before starting.

Both qualifications require practical workplace experience before you can be admitted to full membership.

For ACCA, students must complete at least 36 months of practical experience and pass the Ethics and Professional Skills Module alongside the formal exam components.

For ICAN, candidates must complete 36 months of practice experience following their exams before being inducted as an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA).

While both bodies require a 36-month duration in their published regulations, you should not assume their monitoring frameworks, supervisor criteria, or reporting rules are identical. You must review the specific workplace verification guidelines published by each body.

Holding an ACCA qualification does not grant automatic membership in ICAN.

According to ICAN's published exemption schedule, checked on 31 October 2026 on the ICAN steps to ACA page, holders of ACCA (UK) are exempted from several papers but must still complete three specific subjects:

• Corporate and Business Law
• Public Sector Accounting and Finance
• Advanced Taxation

Exemption policies, required papers, and applicable administrative fees are subject to change. Always verify the current exemption table and associated requirements on ICAN's live portal before submitting an application.

Read the ACCA Qualification guide and the ICAN guide for the rest of each route.